Worldwide Membership at Health Clubs Climbs to 85 Million

BOSTON–The health club industry is nearing its goal of having 100 million members by the year 2010—and will very likely surpass it, according to the 2005 IHRSA Global Report, which was published in June.

In its annual report on the state of the health club industry, IHRSA estimates that there are 85 million health club members worldwide—an estimated 25 million more than there were just five years ago. Health club membership grew an average of more than seven percent a year during that period.

“Achieving 100 million members by 2010 seems a foregone conclusion,” said Jay M. Ablondi, IHRSA’s director of publishing, noting that it would require less than four percent average annual growth for the industry to reach its goal. Ablondi encouraged the association’s members to add another 25 million members over the next five years and make “110 million by 2010” the industry’s new rallying cry.

The report, which includes commentary from industry leaders across the globe, also estimates that there are more than 82,000 clubs worldwide, which generated in excess of $39 billion in revenue last year.